For highlighting information about human rights violations suffered by 31 Burmese Migrant Workers who were working at Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd, in Charles Hector Blog, HR Defender, Charles Hector, has been sued for RM10 million by the said company.

ALIRAN has up a fund so that concerned groups and persons can contribute to the legal cost and expenses incurred by Charles Hector, Human Rights Defender, in the legal suit initiated by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd. A lot of financial support is needed and your immediate assistance is needed.

Payments can be made by bank transfer to:

Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran NegaraBank account number:

107 246 109 510

Malayan Banking Berhad, Green Lane branch, Penang, Malaysia.

(If you are outside Malaysia, please include the “SWIFT” code for our bank: MBBEMYKL)

Please also email us at aliran@streamyx.com to indicate that it is a donation to Hector’s Legal Defence Fund.

Donations may also be made by cheque or bank draft made payable to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara. Mail your cheque/bank draft to us at 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia, indicating clearly that it is a donation to the Hector Legal Defence Fund. [http://aliran.com/4590.html]

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent information he has received on the protection of foreign diplomatic missions by the Libyan authorities. [54526]

Alistair Burt: A mob looted, attacked and burned the British embassy and ambassador's residence in Tripoli on 30 April 2011. The diplomatic premises of France, Italy, Qatar, the US and the UN also suffered damage. The Vienna convention requires the Qadhafi regime to protect diplomatic missions in Tripoli. By failing to do so, that regime has once again breached its international responsibilities and obligations. In response the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has expelled the Libyan ambassador to the UK. The attacks against diplomatic missions will not weaken our resolve to protect the civilian population in Libya.

Malaysia: Human Rights

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Malaysia concerning Mr Charles Hector Fernandez; what his most recent assessment is of the situation of human rights campaigners in Malaysia; and if he will make a statement. [54621]

Mr Jeremy Browne: The EU Delegation in Kuala Lumpur has met with Charles Hector Fernandez and has been following his trial on behalf of member states. The Malaysian Government is not a party to the case, which is a civil matter between Mr Fernandez and a Japanese company. The UK has therefore made no representations to the Malaysian Government, but our high commission in Kuala Lumpur continues to monitor the trial.

9 May 2011 : Column 989W

Malaysia has a national framework for the protection of human rights enshrined in its constitution. However, we remain concerned that human rights defenders who challenge the Government can suffer harassment and arrest. EU missions in Kuala Lumpur met local human rights defenders in March 2010 and maintain a dialogue with them. Our high commission also maintains contacts with human rights defenders and regularly speaks to them and to the national human rights commission (SUHAKAM) on a range of human rights issues.

Maldives: Tourism

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to update advice offered to UK citizens (a) in and (b) planning to travel to the Maldives following recent events in that country. [54719]

The information provided by the workers. After they complaint about wages, wage deductions,.. they were threatened, there was attempts to send back workers to Burma, removal of electrical and cooking items and disconnection of electrical supply... Details of the said violations were then highlighted in the blog beginning 8/2/2011.

On 14/2/2011, the company did file the legal suit, and also an got ,amongst others, a 'gag' order' on 17/2/2011. All this were done without the knowledge of Charles Hector. The said order and the court documents was handed over to Charles Hector on 21/2/2011.

The stay applied for was not granted by the Court of Appeal on 23/08/2011, and the trial at the High Court in Shah Alam is expected to proceed on the following day, i.e. 24/8/2011, 25/8/2011 and 26/8/2011.

HR Defender, blogger and lawyer is being sued by Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd for highlighting injustices affecting 31 Burmese migrant workers working at the factory of the said company. Targeting those who highlight injustices is EVIL.